WE HOPE YOU ARE FOLLOWING THIS

October 30. An excellent opinion piece by Meghan Brinkley can be read in the Suffolk News Herald. The title is "Fox news stands up to the president." Makes you wonder what goes on in the Administration
minds. What idiot could convince Obama to stoop to such pettiness? Or.....

IT IS NONE OF OUR BUSINESS BUT

What are your thoughts about the group of Suffolk Citizens bidding for restoration of the Obici House as a place for fine dining. There perhaps is a connection between those who play golf and those whom fine dine and might make complete sense. Or would you prefer some other group unconnected to golf to make it their private building? "IS" is not that interested but we know some of you are...we have heard the muttering. Only because of the generosity of Mr. Obici toward Suffolk do we offer this opportunity for comment. It seems to us that Mrs. Obici has already been slighted enough and wish she had a voice in the matter. Maybe your opinion will help deciders decide. Who knows?

NOBODY TALKING DOWN AT CITY HALL

Remember back in August when the fire at the Red Thread and beyond was happening? What you did not know was that it was a Keystone Cop event with flummoxed firemen, amateur electricians, and God intervening by not allowing strong winds. Believe it or not the nearest fire hydrant had no water. Another on Main had about five gallons and pooped out. Fortunately another on Main saved the day and perhaps a few buildings. On top of all that they couldn’t shut off the electricity or get to the switches to get power back to many nearby buildings. An attempt to get inside the Red Thread, hopefully to shut off the power, was thwarted because someone had changed the lock and a man who had the right key did not. ApparentlyAndy Damiani offered a crowbar but just then a man tried his key for the hell and it worked. The huge plates on the sidewalk, and entrance to underground electric cutoffs were too heavy to lift without a forklift, not one was handy. Both the City Manager and Debbie George, according to onlookers were running around like headless chickens, doing their best to help and save the city from embarrassment. We heard today that reporters from the local papers would write about the comedy but as yet can’t find anyone at City Hall that will talk. The city knows there are old water mains that could lead to fire hydrant problems. The fire was in August but it took to October to dig up the one by Red Thread. Testing others would be good for some of that surplus $$.

IN TEXAS IT CAN BACKFIRE

Victoria, Texas is a town about 80 miles west of Houston. Local Hispanic leaders there, in opposition to pending Immigration Legislation, boycotted all Caucasian owned businesses last month as a demonstration of their economic impact on the community. The Hispanic community, noting revenue in Caucasian owned businesses was down 19%, declared the boycott a success. But those business owners also declared the boycott a success, pointing out that shoplifting was reduced by 77%, and money orders sent out of the country were down by 97 percent.. Shoppers reported they could actually hear English being spoken throughout the community for the first time in recent memory, and customers paid for purchases with real money, not government debit cards or food stamps.

Excerpt from their local paper.

TWO TRILLION LIES

That is part of the title of the opinion piece in the Suffolk News Herald this morning, Oct 28. It is a pretty strong admonishment of our President. Worth a read.

THE MAJORITY OF CITIZENS COULDN'T CARE LESS

At the heart of the American idea is the deep distrust and suspicion the founders of our nation had for government, distrust and suspicion not shared as much by today's Americans. Some of the founders' distrust is seen in our Constitution's language such as Congress shall not: abridge, infringe, deny, disparage, violate and deny. If the founders did not believe Congress would abuse our God-given rights, they would not have provided those protections. After all, one would not expect to find a Bill of Rights in Heaven; it would be an affront to God. Other founder distrust for government is found in the Constitution's separation of powers, checks and balances and the several anti-majoritarian provisions such as the Electoral College and the requirement that three-quarters of state legislatures ratify changes in the Constitution. The three branches of our federal government are no longer bound by the Constitution as the framers envisioned and what is worse is American ignorance and acceptance of such rogue behavior. Look at the current debate over government involvement in health, business bailouts and stimulus packages. The debate centers around questions as whether such involvement is a good idea or a bad idea and whether one program is more costly than another. Those questions are entirely irrelevant to what should be debated, namely: Is such government involvement in our lives permissible under the U.S. Constitution? That question is not part of the debate. The American people, along with our elected representatives, whether they're Republicans or Democrats, care less about what is and what is not permissible under our Constitution. They think Congress has the right to do anything upon which they can secure a majority vote, whether they have the constitutional or moral authority to do so or not." --George Mason economics professor Walter E. Williams

Why won't Sheriff Issacs speak to the press?

Here’s the story as I understand it. Wavy’s reporter, Kay Young, has contacted both Raleigh Issacs and Jay Clason to get the scoop about why each wants to be sheriff. Jay Clayson shared his thoughts with Ms. Young, but Ms. Young has yet to get responses from Sheriff Issacs. According to the write-up, Mr. Issacs has chosen NOT TO respond because Ms. Young indicated that she would like to get his perception on “allegations from some of his constituents that he used his position to help a relative in legal trouble.” In fact, he hung up on her.

Ms. Young wanted to give Sheriff Issacs an opportunity to clear up the issue and the related allegations that are out and about. Sheriff Issacs doesn’t want to talk about it. I do think with the election coming up that it is an appropriate time for Sheriff Issacs to finally address this with constituents. Put the issue to rest. Mr. Issacs may not feel he needs to respond to the press, but I hope he feels he needs to be accountable and responsible to his constituents and that’s us.

IT IS TIME YOU HEARD THIS

Hidden 1,000 feet beneath the surface of the Rocky Mountains lies the largest untapped oil reserve in the world. It is more than 2 TRILLION barrels. On August 8, 2005 President Bush mandated its extraction. In three and a half years of high oil prices none has been extracted. With this motherload of oil why are we still fighting over off-shore drilling? We have more oil inside our borders, than all the other proven reserves on earth, 8-times as much oil as Saudi Arabia. HOW can this BE? HOW can we NOT BE extracting this? Because the environmentalists and others have blocked all efforts to help America become independent of foreign oil! Again, we are letting a small group of people dictate our lives and our economy.....WHY? James Bartis, lead researcher with the study says we've got more oil in this very compact area than the entire Middle East -more than 2 TRILLION barrels untapped. That's more than all the proven oil reserves of crude oil in the world today, reports The Denver Post. Don't think 'OPEC' will drop its price - even with this find? Think again! It's all about the competitive marketplace, - it has to. Think OPEC just might be funding the environmentalists? Got your attention/ire up yet? Hope so! . http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1911

AND WHERE DID THOSE DOLLARS COME FROM

SUFFOLK The Economic Development Authority will give $824,400 in public funds to help the city land a defense supplier. EDA board members approved the economic development incentive grant last week but did not identify the amount during the public vote. The city released the resolution Thursday in accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

OBAMA SENDS HIS LOVE

City Council members voted to accept a $741,100 energy efficiency conservation block grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. $100,000 of that money will be used to provide new energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment and lighting at the old Nansemond County courthouse, soon to be renovated into the new Visitors Center, (at a cost of $855,000 to us ). And will be used to replace the existing heating and cooling equipment at the human resources building. Jones said. “This is a major capital project that needs to be done, and now it gets done with no local tax dollars.” Baloney, Mr. Jones is in error as those WILL BE someone’s local taxes down the road. Like maybe our kids. But City Hall believes there is such a thing as free money.

PRETTY CONCISE

A conservative that doesn't like guns doesn't buy one. If a liberal doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed. If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat. If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone. If a conservative sees a foreign threat, he thinks about how to defeat his enemy. A liberal wonders how to surrender gracefully and still look good. A conservative homosexual quietly leads his life. A liberal homosexual demands legislated respect. A black or Hispanic conservative sees himself as independently successful. Liberal counterparts see themselves as victims in need of government protection. A down and out conservative thinks about how to better his situation. A liberal wonders who will take care of him. If a conservative doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.Liberals demand that those they don't like be shut down. If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church. A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced. (Unless it's a foreign religion, of course!) A conservative deciding he needs health care goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it. A liberal demands that the rest of us pay for his. If a conservative slips and falls in a store, he gets up, laughs and is embarrassed. A liberal grabs his neck, moans like he's in labor and then sues. So why do liberals think they're more tolerant than conservatives?! From a reader.

IS THERE NO LIMIT TO STIMULUS

We thought cash for clunkers was the ultimate waste of taxpayer money, but as usual we were too optimistic. Thanks to the federal tax credit to buy high-mileage cars that was part of President Obama's stimulus plan, Uncle Sam is now paying Americans to buy that great necessity of modern life, the golf cart.
The federal credit provides from $4,200 to $5,500 for the purchase of an electric vehicle, and when it is combined with similar incentive plans in many states the tax credits can pay for nearly the entire cost of a golf cart. Even in states that don't have their own tax rebate plans, the federal credit is generous enough to pay for half or even two-thirds of the average sticker price of a cart, which is typically in the range of $8,000 to $10,000. The purchase of some models could be absolutely free.. From Virginia News Source

ONE-TIME BONUS FOR CITY EMPLOYEES

We’re not supposed to call it a bonus. Councilman Brown wants us to call this an “employee performance one-time supplement.” Vice-mayor Milteer mentioned that providing this will help morale and activity in the family go up. Mayor Johnson applauded staff for turning off lights, not idling cars, turning the air conditioning up and turning the heat down. She mentioned that the family has to take care of one another. Obviously all Council members will vote to approve the bonus since employees have done such an outstanding job. They’ve saved us money. They’ve been more efficient. They’ve done their job better. Johnson tried to tie the work of firefighters and saving streets to some sort of efficiency. I tie this to the incredible work ethic of our firefighters.

A couple of thoughts here. First of all – where are the citizens in this “family?” We’re just not feeling it. And why is it okay to take money from one family member and decide that another family member needs it more? And why hasn’t Council talked about giving the money BACK to the citizens from whom it was taken? Perhaps helping the budget crunch in our Constitutional offices would be a good use of the money.

We DO need to recognize employees, but a bonus is not necessarily the only way. How about making sure there is a cost-of-living raise in salaries for our employees? This would let them know that even in tough times we value the job they do enough to make a commitment in the budget – and not just when a surplus is available.

Bulk Refuse Coming Back - But Just for a Short While

Suffolk’s Council took time to address the bulk refuse issue at its work session today. Several members indicated that they are glad it is back in place. Councilman Parr let us know that if Council knew there would have been a surplus, then the bulk refuse service would never have been taken away.

Gardy patted all on the back for following the new city law. Barlow mentioned that the refuse program just wasn’t understood. Brown wanted to make sure we all know that the dates for the reestablishment of the service is December 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010. Milteer reminded all that there are still a number of folks who don’t have city trashcans. (I believe this was to have been addressed for Milteer by city staff many months ago when he previously brought this issue up.)

I don’t buy that bulk refuse would have been left in if staff knew there was a surplus. City Council CHOSE TO STOP THIS SERVICE when they chose to fund things that are not essential to the management of the city (e.g., Peanut Fest and other nonprofit organizations).

As I remind people all the time, I think that things like Peanut Fest are valuable contributions to our city, but I don't think it's necessarily our citizen dollars that should pay for this. This is a city service that was REMOVED while available dollars were used for other things.

FYI: Mr. Neilson indicated that if you have bulk refuse put out before December 1st, it will be picked up.

What say you?

ARE WE BEING SPUN

To All: A commenter gave us the correct address.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227

Take a look at this article and then ask yourself just what the well guarded City Credit Rating really means...? This article verifies the fact that the three main bond-rating agencies have a conflict of interest that puts profit before accuracy. So aren't City pronouncements about our "swell" bond ratings possible fiction?

Does this show that the trips by Staff and the Council to New York are nothing less than show to keep up the idea that all is well? And whatever happenned to telephones?